California Treasurer Lockyer Endorses Perez for Controller

LOS ANGELES -- John Perez, Speaker of the California Assembly, received the endorsement of State Treasurer Bill Lockyer in his campaign for the office of State Controller.

“With improvement in California’s financial outlook and projected surpluses in the coming years, our controller will play an increasingly vital role in preserving California’s financial stability,” Lockyer said. “Speaker Perez has a keen knowledge of the state budget and his commitment to fiscal responsibility make him the ideal person for the job.”

Lockyer, who terms out as treasurer in 2014, said in June that he did not plan to run for controller.

The current controller, John Chiang, is also termed out and planning to run for treasurer.

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom also has endorsed Perez for the controller position.

Term limits will force Perez out of his Assembly seat.

The openly gay politician was elected in 2008 to represent the 46th Assembly District, comprising the cities of Maywood, Vernon, Huntington Park as well as the community of Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, unincorporated East Los Angeles and parts of South Los Angeles. In January 2010, he was elected Speaker of the California Assembly and was sworn in as the 68th Speaker on March 1, 2010.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Perez served as political director for the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 324, and previously served in a similar position for the California Labor Federation.

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